A courier driver has been ordered to attend a rehabilitation course after being found with images of serious child abuse on his mobile phone.

Jason Gaymer, aged 43, was found with three movies showing ‘quite disgusting’ abuse of children when police raided his cottage near Sidmouth last year.

He claimed the images were not for his sexual gratification but has since booked himself in for a course of counseling with an Exeter-based charity.

Gaymer, of Salcombe Regis, admitted three charges of possessing indecent images of children and was jailed for six months, suspended for two years, by Judge Geoffrey Mercer, QC, at Exeter Crown Court.

He also ordered him to undertake 60 hours rehabilitation activities with the probation service, pay £535 costs and sign on the sex offenders register for seven years. He also made a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which allows the police to monitor his online activity.

He told him:”You understand now that these are serious offences. Because you are a man without previous convictions and of good character, it is not necessary to send you to prison today.

“I understand you are already seeking counselling and you must also engage fully with the probation service.”

Mr Gordon Richings, prosecuting, said the police searched Gaymer’s home in November last year after receiving information that his IP address had been used to download child abuse images.

A smartphone was seized from his bedside table and found to contain three movies which have been assessed as being in the worst category A, which shows children having sex with adults.

There were also 24 stills and one movie at the lower categories B and C. Mr Richings said:”There is a schedule setting out the material. The category A images are quite disgusting.”

Mr William Parkhill, defending, said Gaymer acknowledged he needed help and has voluntarily started a course of counselling with the Margaret Jackson Foundation.

He is likely to lose his job as a courier driver as a result of this conviction but hopes to find similar work so he can pay off the costs and a large legal aid contribution.